Three George II silver plates engraved with the Royal Cypher & Crown, London, 1744, John Hugh le Sage, each engraved with the initials GR (George Rex) bordering the cypher, the group comprising two oval meat dishes (23.5 x 32cm) and a dinner plate (24.3cm dia.,), the oval dishes engraved with F&C (8) to reverse, the circular plate with F&C (72), total weight approx. 68.4oz (3) 

Note: For similar examples to the dinner plate in this lot (with same Cypher and the F&C inventory number see Lot 149, Sotheby's, Arts of Europe, 3rd July 2012 

Provenance (with thanks to Pursuivant Research): The Royal arms and the initials of the Barony of Fauconberg and Conyers, put on in the early 20th century, suggest that these dishes were originally issued by the Royal Jewel house to Robert D'Arcy (1718-1778), 4th Earl of Holderness and 8th Baron Conyers, in 1744 as British Ambassador (a post he held until 1746).They then descended through his family with the Barony of Conyers (one which unusually can be inherited by women and in the female line). The provenance of these pieces is therefore assumed to be: Robert D'Arcy (1718-1778), 4th and last Earl of Holderness and 8th Baron Conyers; Amelia Osborne (nee D'Arcy) (1754-1784), Marchioness of Carmarthen and later Lady Amelia Byron, 9th Baroness Conyers in her own right; George William Frederick Osborne (1775-1838), 5th Duke of Leeds and 10th Baron Conyers; Francis Godolphin D'Arcy Osborne (1798-1859), 6th Duke of Leeds and 11th Baron Conyers; Sackville Lane-Fox (1827-1888), 12th Baron Conyers; Marcia Pelham (nee Lane-Fox) (1863-1926), Countess of Yarborough also 13th Baron Conyers in her own right; Sackville George Pelham (1888-1948), 5th Earl of Yarborough and 14th Baron Conyers.